Pantothenic Acid And Weight Loss

If you, like me, were fond of reading your cereal boxes when you were a kid, you no doubt saw "pantothenic acid" as one of the ingredients added to your Cap'n Crunch and Froot Loops. While it might have sounded like something that would dissolve paint off a wall, it's actually one of the B vitamins critical for good health.

B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins, which means they are not stored in great quantities in the body and must be ingested every day. B vitamins, like pantothenic acid, are incredibly vital. They help the body convert carbohydrates into glucose (for sugar energy) and also are essential in the breakdown of fats and protein in the digestive tract. They also maintain muscle tone in the digestive tract and promote the health of everything from your hair to your liver.

Vitamin B5, which is pantothenic acid, is one of the most important of the group of B vitamins. It is crucial in the manufacture of red blood cells and also in the regulation of sex- and stress-related hormones. It also helps the body use other vitamins, especially B2 (riboflavin) more effectively. Its relation to stress hormone production has earned B5 the nickname "the stress vitamin."

The commercial uses for B5 are legion. Pantithene, one derivative, is used as a treatment for high cholesterol. If you've ever used Pantene shampoo, you've put another B5 component on your head.

Vitamin B5 occurs naturally in all living cells, and is one of the most common supplements added to food. As such, most people get enough of it in their diets without needing to take supplements. Unlike some herbal compounds and other diet and weight loss aids, pills containing massive doses of pantothenic acid are generally not necessary or recommended. Side effects of high doses can be fatigue, insomnia, depression, irritability, vomiting, stomach pains and upper respiratory infections.

As for its use as a diet aid, B5 is not directly helpful in weight loss. However, its stress-busting properties make it helpful for those who suffer from stress brought on by the quest to lose weight and by denying themselves their favorite snacks. The cholesterol-lowering effects are worth noting, too, as a great number of overweight people also suffer from high cholesterol.

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